There was once a chain of restaurants in Toledo, Ohio named Uncle Sam's. The business died out, but not before three huge Uncle Sams were commissioned and built. Two of these have since left Ohio. A 42-feet-tall Uncle Sam stands in front of 23 Fuel Stop in Ottawa Lake, Michigan, where he beckons patrons to come inside and buy fireworks.

Another of the Toledo Sams was sold on eBay and went Hatch, New Mexico in 2006. The owner said he was going to place the statue in front of a business, but two years later, he's still flat on his back.

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Maybe you didn't know that the character of Uncle Sam is based on a real person. Samuel Wilson was a Troy, New York meat packer who supplied food to the military during the War of 1812. The barrels of meat were labeled U.S, which was referred to as Uncle Sam. The Uncle Sam Memorial Statue stands in Arlington, Massachusetts, Wilson's birthplace. The 15-foot memorial features a statue modeled after Wilson and a relief depicting the popular image of Uncle Sam with a beard and tall hat. (image credit: Daderot)

Troy, New York is proud to be known as the Home of Uncle Sam. This statue of of Samuel Wilson stands at the corner of River St. and 3rd St. in downtown Troy. There is also a memorial at Wilson's grave in Troy's Oakwood Cemetary. (image credit: anneelizabethmoore)

To properly celebrate patriotic occasions, you can't beat a live giant Uncle Sam. Frank Jeffreys of Raleigh, North Carolina is a clown, mime, juggler, and stiltwalker who performs as Uncle Sam in stilts. This puts him heads and shoulders above the crowd. And most of the rest of his body, too!

Uncle Sam has made many appearances at Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. This balloon by Aerostar was photographed in 2004.

Suppliers all over the US will rent or sell a giant inflatable Uncle Sam to promote anything at all. This Uncle Sam was spotted selling used cars. Keep your eyes out this holiday weekend, and you might see a giant Uncle Sam where you live!